Each year, the Better Government Competition focuses on one of the country’s greatest public policy challenges. Families today are struggling to afford college, young adults are saddled with crippling debt, and government workforce development programs and existing education models have not been reliable pipelines to stable employment. In recognition of these challenges, Pioneer Institute’s 2018 Better Government Competition seeks ideas to make postsecondary education options for high school graduates more affordable, accessible, and effective.

Entry Deadline: Papers of up to five (5) pages due by Friday, March 23rd at 4:00 PM ET.

Submit an idea paper of five or fewer pages describing the problem you’re addressing and your solution. The “idea” can be a new concept or a recently implemented program that shows promising results. Be sure to touch briefly on the following elements:
• A description, with relevant background, of the problem to be addressed.
• An explanation of the proposed solution and how it will change the current policy landscape in postsecondary education.

If appropriate, cite examples of similar approaches that are currently in place.

If possible, estimate and discuss the costs and benefits of your idea or model compared to current policy approaches, potential obstacles to implementation, and the estimated size of the potential student population that would be affected in Massachusetts. Please note: Legal obstacles or the need for new legislation should not be considered barriers to entry.

Explore ways to advance partnerships between postsecondary schools and employers that augment student opportunities for career development.

Other ideas? The topics outlined above are examples to help stimulate and guide the development of your proposals. Entrants are not limited to the categories listed above and should feel free to draft proposals focused on other ideas based on proven public policy reforms related to higher education costs, postsecondary education opportunities, and workforce competitiveness.